Robert Redford, the famous actor and director who made some of the biggest movies of the last century, has died at the age of 89. His family said he passed away at his home in Sundance, Utah, the place he loved most and he was surrounded by people close to him.
Redford’s family said: “Robert Redford passed away on Sept. 16, 2025, at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah – the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved. He will be missed greatly. The family requests privacy.”
He was born Charles Robert Redford Jr. on August 18, 1936, in Santa Monica, California. He grew up in Los Angeles and tried college in Colorado before leaving to study painting in Europe, later coming back to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, which is where his acting career really began.
Redford broke through in the 1960s and became a household name when he starred with Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in 1969, and then came big movies like The Sting, The Way We Were, All the President’s Men, and Out of Africa. He could play different roles, and people loved his presence on screen.
He was more than an actor, he became a respected director too and even won an Academy Award for directing Ordinary People in 1980 which also won Best Picture. He also started the Sundance Institute and festival in 1981 which grew into a major platform for filmmakers all around the world.
Over time he became known not only for movies but also for speaking up for environmental issues, political change, and Native American rights. His causes were a big part of who he was.
In his later years he still took on big roles like The Horse Whisperer in 1998, All Is Lost in 2013, and The Old Man & the Gun in 2018 which was supposed to be his retirement from acting. Even after stepping back from Hollywood he was still seen as one of the most respected and loved figures in film.
